Kissimmee or International Drive – Which Is Best for Your Vacation?

There are several areas in the Orlando district that are great for tourists. Kissimmee and International Drive are two of the most popular, but which is best?

Kissimmee is best if you plan to spend most of your Orlando vacation at Walt Disney World. Kissimmee is located outside the entrance of the Walt Disney World Resort. As such, you can be at most places within Walt Disney World in less than 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, if you don’t plan to hire a car, then International Drive is a great option. International Drive has excellent public transport options, restaurants, and entertainment options.

Having stayed in Kissimmee and on International Drive, I’ve broken down each area to help you decide what’s best for your vacation.

Kissimmee

Kissimmee is located just outside the entrance to the Walt Disney World Resort. This is the largest city in Osceola County, Florida. As such, you’ll find many accommodation options here to suit all family sizes and budgets.

Location

Kissimmee is 17 miles from Orlando International Airport (MCO). As such, you can get from the airport to your accommodation in Kissimmee in under 40 minutes.

Kissimmee is also in a prime location for the incredible Orlando theme parks:

• Walt Disney World: 12 miles
• SeaWorld Orlando: 12 miles
• Universal Orlando: 19 miles

Accommodation

Kissimmee is home to 120 hotels and 50,000 vacation homes. As such, accommodation options in Kissimmee are plentiful.

Budget hotels in Kissimmee go for as little as $60 a night. Meanwhile, luxury resorts in the area can often exceed $500 a night.

Some of my favourite accommodation options in Kissimmee include:

• Reunion Resort & Golf Club – An incredible five-star resort
• Berkley Lake Town Homes – Ideal for extended stays & large families
• GreenPoint Hotel– Just a 10-minute drive from Walt Disney World

If you want a vacation rental, I suggest Kissimmee instead of International Drive. Kissimmee has a lot more choices when it comes to vacation rentals. As such, you’ll find everything from condos to eight-bed mansions.

Amenities

Given Kissimee’s size, the city has a lot to offer. From shopping outlets to affordable restaurants. It’s all here!

Major attractions are often the main reason for staying in Kissimmee. However, there are some other lesser-known attractions in the area. These include:

• Gatorland – An alligator experience like no other!
• The Old Town – Home to unique independent stores & carnival rides
• Fun Spot – An independent theme park.

International Drive

Unlike Kissimmee, International Drive is not a city. Instead, International Drive is an 11.1-mile main road that passes through Orlando. Given its length, where you stay on International Drive is significant.

Location

Since International Drive is an 11.1-mile long road, the distance to major attractions depends on where you stay.

International Drive starts at Oak Ridge in the north and ends at US 192 (Irlo Bronson Highway) near Celebration in the south. As a rough guide, here is the distance from International Drive to:

• Orlando International Airport (MCO): 12.5 – 18 miles
• Walt Disney World: 5 – 11 miles
• SeaWorld Orlando: 5 – 8 miles
• Universal Orlando: 4 – 11 miles

Accommodation

Most accommodation options along International Drive are hotels and resorts. Budget options here start from as little as $50 a night.

Some of my favourite places to stay on International Drive include:

• Rosen Inn – A great choice if you’re visiting Universal Studios
• Best Western Orlando Gateway – Has a shuttle bus to theme parks.
• Days Inn by Wyndham – Fantastic for families on a budget.

Amenities

Since International Drive is the major thoroughfare in Orlando, it’s a great place to stay if you want to avoid hiring a car.

The LYNX bus service has several stops along International Drive. Meanwhile, the I-Ride Trolley system offers a more casual daily route from 8:00 am to 10:30 pm.

You’ll find everything from shopping outlets to entertainment districts along International Drive. Some of my favourite things include:

• The World’s Largest McDonald’s – Serving unique menu items!
• Madame Tussauds – Take photos with wax figures of significant icons
• Lost Caverns Adventure Golf – Orlando’s newest adventure golf attraction